The March

The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, better known as The March on Washington, took place on August 28, 1963. This was perhaps the biggest demonstration to date of the Civil Rights Movement. The struggle for civil rights was the model for other movements such as women’s rights, worker’s rights, gay civil rights and many others. A lot of attention during the movement was directed towards Birmingham, otherwise known as “Bomingham”. Birmingham, AL was the most segregated city within the United States in 1963. During the movement, a leader arose; a leader by the name Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. King had been the voice for civil rights ever since the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955. King believed that you had to be willing to give your life to fighting against segregation; even if you die in the fight, the problem will eventually be resolved. During the winter of 1963 King began training people to practice non-violence. On April 12, 1963 King was arrested in Birmingham for demonstrating without a permit. King said on behalf of his arrest, “I will suffer because I want justice for my people.” After King was arrested, the teenagers were the ones who essentially saved the movement. They began to become for involved in the sit-ins, marches, etc.

After the arrest of King, another leader began to make his way to the forefront of the movement, A. Phillip Randolph. Randolph was the first black leader to advocate for mass action. Randolph understood that all activity had to be centered on Washington D.C. In late June of 1963 Randolph and King met with JFK to discuss March on Washington; the president feared it would turn violent and kill all chances of any civil rights legislation of getting through congress. Not only did the president fear violence, but he believed King had two communist in his inner circle. He told King that they, O’Dell and Levison, had to be let go before he would support the march. King was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He was to either turn his back on his friends, or lose presidential support. After letting go the two-suspected communist, the march was held in August of 1963. The march consisted of not only African-American citizens, but white citizens as well. Kings famous “I Have a Dream” speech was not only to benefit African-Americans; but he also spoke for American democracy.